Grace and peace be with you all in Jesus Christ our Savior!

I wish each of you a blessed 4th of July holiday weekend.  We have truly been blessed by our Lord as a nation, both in our failures and successes.  The freedoms we enjoy set us apart from almost any nation on earth.  Still, we cherish the freedom we have in Christ much more than any temporal freedom we experience here on earth.  "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."  Jn 8:32,36. I hope you are able to get out and see some fireworks, maybe a parade or picnic, or just catch up on a little rest.  Do make worship a part of your weekend as well.

Sunday is the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, the 5th Sunday after Trinity.  Sunday will be a communion worship service.   I  encourage you to review the questions and answers on page 156 of the hymnal to help edify your worship.  Our worship theme will be:  Being a disciple is not without cost.  Elijah wondered if he were the only one left that followed God's ways.  Sometimes we too wonder how many are left who truly follow the Lord.  The sermon text is taken from Luke 7:36-50 using the theme, "The Woman Who Was A Sinner."  I invite you to join us for the Sunday school classes on the 4th Petition, "Give us this day our daily bread."  Immediately following our worship we will show a WELS connection video.

A reminder that Sunday, July 11 will be or annual church picnic at Edmunson Park.  We will have a voter's and Ladies' Aid meeting at the park at 4:30pm, followed by a pot luck meal at 6:00pm.

On Saturday, July 17, the Ladies from our central Iowa ELS and WELS churches will have a luncheon at the Pella Tea Room starting at 11:30am sharp.  Usually, anywhere from 15-25 ladies attend and those who do, always have an enjoyable time.  You may RSVP with Rose Marie Neumann.

The Lord's blessing on your weekend, I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday.

"I saw the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also live in hope because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your holy see decay."  Acts 2:25

In Christ,

Pastor